Brechin beyond the flood

In our previous update, we referred to a survey for people living in the flood-affected areas.

The survey is now live.

If you live or lived in one of the following areas at the time of the flood:

• River Street
• Middleton Park
• Nursery Lane
• Meikle Mill
• Nursery Park
• Mitchell Drive
• Eastmill Road

Please tell us about the effect the flood has had on you and your thoughts about what happens next:

Complete the residents' survey

The Brechin Community Drop In continues to run every Thursday from 9:30am to 12 noon at The Crickety.

Pop in for a cup of tea, a chat, or advice on issues relating to the impact of the storm, such as:

• money and benefits
• future flood protection
• insurance
• grants and funding: advice and help with applications
• emails and form-filling
• housing
• mental health and wellbeing
• and anything else you feel you need help with

You can also email us at communityresilience@angus.gov.uk.

Angus Floodmobile Roadshow

The roadshow ran across Angus from the 18 to 21 March, including a visit to Glebe Park on 19 March.

Flood Mary, Scottish Flood Forum, Angus Council Housing, Angus Council Roads (Flooding), SSEN and Angus Council Communities team were on hand to give support and respond to queries and feedback on flood recovery and protection.

We responded to questions on dealing with insurance claims; getting insurance for the future; mental health and wellbeing and where to get help and support.

It was great to see those who made it along and the feedback has been very positive.

Flood Defences

Works on the wing wall are nearly finished. The majority of the strengthened wall is now complete.

Pointing of the new wall will start soon and then the walkway will be resurfaced. Some of the original coping stones are still to be pulled from the river. We will do this when the river levels have dropped enough for us to see the stones clearly. As the wall is part of the listed structure, we must make every effort to ensure it looks as it was.

The study looking into options for improving the flood resilience, including the current flood defences, is ongoing. We will provide further updates as the study progresses.

Brechin clean up walkround

This took place on 4 April. It covered River Street, Middleton Park, Nursery Lane, Nursery Park and surrounding areas. It identified the following action points:

• Paths and drying areas around Nursery Lane and Nursery Park have been cleaned once again by the Brechin Street sweeper and Swingo.
• Access paths and stairwells will be power washed after the contractors are finished their remedial work. This is due to be completed by end of April.
• Road verges have been cleaned by the large mechanical road sweeper this week and drains and gullies have been cleared out.
• Additional sweeps of the hard standing areas the length of River Street plus additional road sweeping and gulley emptying to help disperse the silt that has accumulated. Our SWAT team will continue to visit on a regular basis to power wash entries and remove any debris left behind from the flooding.
• Grass cutting has also begun. This should help make open areas look more presentable and with the drier weather help compact any silt on these areas.

Anyone with issues around the open space areas should contact ACCESSLine or the local housing team and we will try to prioritise this work.

Housing survey

Housing consultants Arneil Johnston have been working with Angus Council to look at options for housing. They are preparing to engage with residents and the first stage of this will be through a survey that people living in flood-affected areas in Brechin can complete.

The aim of the survey is to find out about the impact the flood has had on them.

The responses will be used to help build an options appraisal. An options appraisal involves measuring several potential solutions against a set of agreed criteria. The aim is to find the solution that best meets everyone’s needs.

It is important that as many residents as possible in the flood affected area complete the survey to ensure that everyone's voices and opinions are heard.

There will be face to face consultation sessions arranged during May once the survey results are obtained and analysed. This will allow residents to provide further details of their experience and expand on their survey responses.

Look out for more information on the survey.

Housing update

All Council owned flats that were impacted by the flood are being stripped out and taken back to the bricks to allow them all to dry out.

We hope to have completed this by the end of April. The next step will be to place dehumidifiers into the ground floor properties. We will sweep and wash the entryways once the work has been completed.

In the meantime, you can email BrechinMontroseCHT@angus.gov.uk or call ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778.

Decorating grant: update from Brechin Buccaneers

We know that many people are still waiting on homes, but many others have moved and may need a little help in decorating rooms and personalising them. Last week Brechin Rotary Club have allocated £20,000 to allow residents in ground floor properties purchase materials to decorate their properties. £100 per household is available for homeowners and tenants to help in making your home more homely. These vouchers can be obtained from the Crickety.

Email brechinbuccaneers@yahoo.co.uk or pop in to drop-in at The Crickety for more details.

Brechin Buccaneers on Facebook.

The Brechin recovery is ongoing and will be for some time. Work is underway in many areas, and this update brings you recent and ongoing information.

The weekly Thursday morning drop-in is still happening at the Crickety. This is for anyone who wants to have a cup of tea, a chat, or seek advice on any issues relating to the storm's impact. For more information email communityresilience@angus.gov.uk.

Housing update

As mentioned in our last update, contractors have been carrying out surveys ahead of work to strip out and dry out the flood-damaged properties. Three compound areas have been set up:

• Compound one in the carpark area behind 61-83 River Street

• Compound two in the carpark at block 1-24 Nursery Park

• Compound three in the carpark area behind 117-121 River Street

Work started on 18 March to strip out and dry out the Angus Council’s flood damaged ground floor properties within:

• Meikle Mill

• Nursery Park

• Nursery Lane

• River Street

Technical inspections to upper floor flats, to assess any damage caused by the ground floor flooded properties, is now complete.

If you have concerns about mould or damp that haven't been addressed email Leanne BrechinMontroseCHT@angus.gov.uk(External link), or call ACCESSLine on 03452 777778.

Future of Brechin Housing Stock

Housing consultant Arneil Johnston has been appointed to help us consider the options for the future housing stock affected by the flooding. We previously mentioned that this work will look at the housing needs in the area and how this will affect decisions about reinstating or replacing our housing stock.

The consultants would like to speak with people who were or are residents of the immediate area impacted by the flood. They will seek to gather lived experiences of the flooding's impact, future options, choices, and aspirations.

We will contact households from the affected area to ask if they would be interested in sharing their experiences with the consultants.

Flood Defence

The rebuilding of the Brechin Bridge wall wing that collapsed during the storm has begun.

Further survey work is being carried out looking at how to improve the flood resilience of River Street and Brechin. This will complement work on future housing and redevelopment options.

Once the report is finalised, Brechin residents will be involved in engagement and consultation before decisions are made.

Many people are asking why there is still a log embedded in the central pier of the Brechin Bridge.

The main issue which required the bridge to be closed was scour damage to the north abutment, which exposed the bridge's foundations and soft material underneath. This has been repaired, which is why we have been able to reopen the bridge safely.

The more visible damage was to the cutwater on the upstream side of the central pier, where the log has been embedded. The cutwater's purpose is to deflect flows and debris safely around the pier and, fortunately, in itself, is not a weight-bearing part of the structure. Therefore, this damage has not prevented the re-opening of the bridge.

The repair work is still outstanding, as we need to form a safe access route across to the pier to carry out the repairs. Repair work will start when lower flow conditions occur.

Clean up of Brechin

We are aware of the concerns around the significant levels of silt that is still present within the grass, roads, paths and drains.

The silt did not fully return to the river bed after the floods, and when dry, it is stuck hard in the grass areas; when it rains, it then turns to mud.

We are doing our best to address this issue. Ongoing cleaning continues, and a site walk-around is scheduled in the upcoming weeks to look for longer-term solutions.

Residents, community groups and business in Angus are invited to drop in to Floodmobile Roadshow events between Monday 18 and Thursday 21 March in Forfar, Brechin, Birkhill and Carnoustie.

The roadshow organised by Angus Council will see partners from Flood Mary, Scottish Flood Forum, SSEN and the fire service come together to give support and advice on flood recovery, insurance and showcase flood protection tips, ideas and equipment.

Angus Rural Partnership with funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Community-Led Local Development Fund supports the events 2023/24

Floodmobile Angus Roadshow events

• Forfar - Monday 18 March, 12-7pm, Forfar Guide Hall/Myre Car Park
• Brechin – Tuesday 19 March, 12-7pm, Glebe Park
• Birkhill – Wednesday 20 March, 12-7pm, Birkhill Millennium Hall
• Carnoustie – Thursday 21 March, 10-4pm, Madisons Café, Links Parade

The events are free to attend and no appointments needed. Everyone is welcome.

Since the storm, we have supported residents out of the drop-in at the Crickety. This has moved to a Thursday morning. Join us for a cup of tea, chat with fellow residents, and access support for your needs.

We have also been visiting and calling all households impacted by the flood. Hopefully we have reached you all.

If you need help with insurance advice, financial support, health and wellbeing support or simply a listening ear, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at communityresilience@angus.gov.uk.

Your involvement in all future activities is crucial to us. From the calls we have gathered the information you are looking for and have summarised some of it below.

Flood defence

We have commissioned specialist consultants to carry out a technical assessment of the flood defences. This has identified that the defences remain in a good condition and continue to provide the same level of protection as originally designed.

Following this study, a contractor has been commissioned to rebuild the Brechin Bridge wall wing that collapsed during the storm. The high water levels and continuous bad weather have delayed this; but it will start shortly.

A larger study has started, looking at options for improving the flood resilience of River Street and Brechin. This will complement and support work to consider future housing and redevelopment options.

Once this report is finalised, the residents of Brechin will be involved in engagement and consultation before decisions are made.

Brechin Bridge

Brechin Bridge reopened on 12 February. Work to repair the Inch and Skinners Burn damage will begin shortly.

Clean up of Brechin

The grit and silt that have accumulated in parts of Brechin has been repeatedly cleaned and power-washed. This included the drainage systems, paths, and pavements. However, the continuing bad weather and the location in grass and other drainage areas, means that the debris resurfaces whenever it rains. We are happy to look at this with residents to continue to find solutions.

New housing officer

Leanne Archer is the new housing officer for Meikle Mill, River Street, Nursery Lane, and Nursery Park.

If you have questions or concerns about your tenancy or the ongoing works in the area, Leanne will be happy to help you.

Email Leanne on mailto:BrechinMontroseCHT@angus.gov.uk, or call ACCESSLine on 03452 777778.

Rehousing

Since the storm, the dedicated Housing Recovery Team has helped around 310 households. They gave information, advice, and practical support on issues caused by the storm.

57 of Angus Council's ground floor tenancies were severely damaged by the flooding. The team spoke to residents about their housing needs, preferences, and options. This helped them match people to properties on a like-for-like basis.

All council tenants, along with some private tenants and owner occupiers who were living in the severely damaged properties, have now been rehoused.

Some have been permanently rehoused, and some temporarily, depending on their circumstances.

Ongoing work

The majority of the 57 council-owned flood damaged properties have been cleared of flood damaged items.

Contractors have been carrying out surveys ahead of work to strip out and dry out the flood damaged properties. This work is being managed by our insurance company.

We expect these works to start by the end of February.

However, the contractors will be on site before this to set up three compound areas within health and safety guidelines.

• Compound one will be in the carpark area behind 61-83 River Street
• Compound two will be in the carpark at block 1-24 Nursery Park
• Compound three will be in the carpark area behind 117-121 River Street

Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers have been delivered to council flats situated above the ground floor flooded properties.

Technical inspections are also being carried out to look at any damage to these properties as a result of the flooded ground floor properties.

What's happening next?

We are in the process of appointing a consultant to help us consider our options for the future of the housing stock affected by the flooding.

We'll also look at the housing needs in the area and how that will affect decisions about reinstating or replacing our housing stock.

As part of this work, we will speak to tenants who were displaced and those still living in the flood zone area. We're hoping to start this work by the middle of March.

We responded to 82 enquiries from Angus businesses looking for help and support as a result of the damage done by Storm Babet.

We provided £1000 emergency grant funding to 20 businesses in Brechin. This helped them cover cashflow, pay for clean-up, and restore trade.

We contributed £26,000 to repair the electrical substation at Matrix Industrial Site. This helped cover generator costs and ensured businesses at the site could continue to operate.

We administered the Scottish Government Storm Babet Recovery Grant of £3000 to 25 businesses in Brechin, supporting the start of their business recovery.

Eastmill Caravan Park

Eastmill Caravan Park was significantly damaged by flooding. As a result, 24 static caravan owners lost their properties. But these static homeowners have lost more than just their caravans. They were regular visitors to Brechin, who made friends in, and contributed to, the local community.

We worked with the caravan park owners and Binn Group to arrange a discounted rate for residents to safely dispose of their damaged caravans. We were able to provide 80% of the funding to static caravan owners to cover the cost of disposal.

Working in partnership

We are continuing to work with Business Gateway who have supported many businesses through the start of the recovery phase. Any business looking for support can call 01382 848 275 and a business advisor will be happy to help.

We are also working with Scottish Flood Forum who are supporting businesses with flood insurance enquires. Businesses can get in touch with the team on 0131 563 9392.

Our Economic Development team are here to support businesses. Email Invest@angus.gov.uk or call ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778.

Next Steps

We are working with our business support partners to develop longer term plans to support business recovery and resilience. We’ll share more information shortly.